A Medical Device Daily

Ceremed (Los Angeles) said that its collaborative effort with ApaTech (London) has resulted in the launch of ApaTech's latest product, Actifuse Shape, a formable bone grafting solution. The new product combines Ceremed's AOC Biosoluble polymer with ApaTech's Actifuse microgranules. The resulting product's biostimulative properties are optimized by AOC's ability to be molded or cut to the contours of the grafting site.

The launch of Actifuse Shape represents the culmination of a two year collaborative effort between the companies. The product will be manufactured in Ceremed's Los Angeles facility and shipped to ApaTech's distribution points in the UK and U.S. Ceremed has licensed the AOC technology to ApaTech Limited as the first of many projects in which the AOC technology is used as a passive carrier for bioactive materials and therapeutic agents. Several other derivative products related to the AOC technology are planned for release in the coming year.

In other agreements/contracts news:

• Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) reported new agreements for specialty distribution of respiratory therapy and anesthesia products have been awarded to Cardinal Health (Dublin, Ohio) and Tri-anim Health Services (Sylmar, California).

Effective Nov. 1, the 36-month agreements are available to acute and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.

• Phoenix Health Systems (Honolulu) was recently selected by North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH; Waimea) to provide IT related management and infrastructure services.

Phoenix will partner with NHCH to eliminate the operational risk associated with the transition to new clinical information and financial management systems, effectively manage overall IT cost, ensure NHCH has consistent access to professional IT resources, and also a stable and predictable IT environment over time.